Defining Home

One thing we military spouses find ourselves doing is redefining the word home. My parents still live in the same house I was born in, and the back bedroom there will always be "my room", and that house will forever have a place in my heart as home. I moved away to college, and after long nights of studying at the library, I would just want to go "home" to my dorm-room. I upgraded the following school year to my "home" in a townhouse. The year after that to a house, living with my 3 BFF's. We had a blast living there, and those girls certainly helped it feel like "home". The next year, George and I were married and moved across the country to Oklahoma, Texas and Arkansas in less than a year and a half's time. Crazy huh? Each place, just being with George, made it feel like home.

Living in Japan we certainly cannot drive the 4, 8, 15 or 20 hours "home" to Georgia. But there's always the thought in my head when I'm complaining to George that I miss my family "you know what? I don't live there anymore. I haven't for many years, and home is wherever I'm with you." Living a life as a military wife doesn't give you much leeway to be home sick for your family. I will always miss them, with each passing holiday, birthday, town events etc... but it's nice to know we have a great "family" here in Japan as well.

I have a song I've been singing for a month or two nonstop in my head. I've posted it on Facebook before, and will post it here now; just trying to spread the love. The lyrics speak to me just as much as the musically talented multi-person band does. They're hippy-esque, with some folk, rock and indie thrown in. I just adore them and the song. It's a duet. Here's the lyrics, and a link to the video:

Home
By: Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjFaenf1T-Y

Her:
Alabama, Arkansas
I do love my ma and pa
Not that way that I do love you

Him:
Holy moley, me oh my
You're the apple of my eye
Girl, I've never loved one like you

Her:
Man, oh man, you're my best friend
I scream it to the nothingness
There ain't nothing that I need

Him:
Well, hot and heavy, pumpkin pie
Chocolate candy, Jesus Christ
There ain't nothing please me more than you

Both:
Ah, home
Let me go home
Home is wherever I'm with you
Ah, home
Let me go home
Home is wherever I'm with you

La, la, la, la, take me home
Mommy, I'm coming home

Him:
I'll follow you into the park
Through the jungle, through the dark
Girl, I've never loved one like you

Her:
Moats and boats and waterfalls
Alleyways and pay phone calls
I've been everywhere with you

Him:
That's true
Laugh until we think we'll die
Barefoot on a summer night
Never could be sweeter than with you

Her:
And in the streets you run a-free
Like it's only you and me
Geez, you're something to see

Both:
Ah, home
Let me go home
Home is wherever I'm with you
Ah, home
Let me go home
Home is wherever I'm with you

La, la, la, la, take me home
Daddy, I'm coming home

(talking)
Him: Jade
Her: Alexander
Him: Do you remember that day you fell out of my window?
Her: I sure do, you came jumping out after me
Him: Well, you fell on the concrete, nearly broke your ass, you were bleeding all over the place and I rushed you out to the hospital, you remember that?
Her: Yes, I do
Him: Well, there's something I never told you about that night
Her: What didn't you tell me?
Him: While you were sitting in the backseat smoking a cigarette you thought was going to be your last, I was falling deep, deeply in love with you, and I never told you until just now

Both:
Ah, home
Let me go home
Home is wherever I'm with you
Ah, home
Let me go home
Home is where I'm alone with you

Him:
Home
Let me come home
Home is wherever I'm with you

Her:
Ah, home
Yes I am home
Home is when I'm alone with you

Her:
Alabama, Arkansas
I do love my ma and pa
Moats and boats and waterfalls
Alleyways and pay phone calls

Both:
Ah, home
Let me go home
Home is wherever I'm with you
Ah, home
Let me go home
Home is where I'm alone with you